Dallas, TX tourist question

[MickeyMFan]

Hey all...as you can see from my profile, I am fairly new to the Dis and haven't even made up a signature yet. I know you all can answer just about any question, so here is mine:

I am going to be in Dallas, TX for a week from June 17-24. I will be pretty much by myself because I am going with a school group for the Speech/Debate Nationals and will only be needed for 2-3 days. The other days I will be on my own. What can I do? I have never been to Dallas before and need some help. I will have a rental car, so transportation won't be an issue unless you think I should use something else. What is there to do for good shopping, cultural experiences, etc.? I have searched Google and requested a tourist book, but I haven't received anything yet.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

April

 

[goofy's friends]

There's the JFK museum and area where he was shot. We like Grapevine Mills for shopping for bargains and eating at the Rainforest Cafe. Nice shopping is at the Galleria. You need to eat at one of the many Tex-Mex cantinas. Papa citas, Papa deux's, are good

 

[KathyTX]

Where do you live now, and what kind of entertainment/shopping/sights sound like fun to you?

What part of town will you be staying in?

You could always start your week off with a fun DIS meet! We have one planned for June 17 at 3:00. Here's the thread, in case you'll be here in time for that kind of fun: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107320

 

[slimplaw]

The Dallas area DISers are having a meet on June 17 at 3:00. If you are available then, you could meet us. Specifics are on the DISmeet board.
There are a lot of shopping malls in the Dallas area. There is NorthPark, Galleria, Stonebriar and Grapevine Mills to name a few. In downtown Dallas there is an aquarium, I've never been there but have heard it is nice. In Ft. Worth, you could visit the stockyards. This is only about 30 miles from Dallas. People still are able to visit Southfork where they filmed the series Dallas. Just south of downtown Dallas is Old City Park. It is set up with homes from the 1800's. Ft. Worth also has a very nice zoo. You also will not be far from Six Flags park in Arlington and next to it is the Texas Rangers ballpark which is very nice.
I just saw that Kathy also mentioned the DISmeet.

 

[MickeyMFan]

I honestly don't know where we will be staying yet. I know no details except that we are going to 6 Flags that Sunday. I will be needed then for that outing and I'll be needed Friday the 23rd. Other than that, I am basically free to do whatever I want. I want to work on my photography hobby, so any place to take cool pictures would be terrific! I love shopping (looking actually--I won't have any money b/c I will have just returned from WDW on the 14th!), theatre, live music, art museums, anything like that. The JFK museum sounds interesting. I truly appreciate any help I can get!

I don't think I'll be able to make the Dismeet due to time constraints that day. We'll be arriving, getting to our hotel, etc.

THanks again!
April

 

[Planogirl]

If you enjoy photography, the statue The Mustangs of Las Colinas is a favorite subject of photographers. I BELIEVE that's the proper name, it's close anyway. If you're in the area, you might want to check it out.

If you like art and aren't too far away from Fort Worth, the Kimbell (http://www.kimbellart.org/) and the Amon Carter (http://www.cartermuseum.org/) are world class museums and must sees. There's also other museums including a modern art facility that I've been told is good. (http://www.themodern.org/) Again it depends on where you'll be and how much time you have. The nice thing about Fort Worth's museums are that they are all together and they're easy to see in one day. A nice easy drive from the museums is downtown Fort Worth which has many historic buildings, restaurants and nightlife, and theater venues. Then another easy drive beyond that is the Stockyards district which is OK to me. Billy Bob's is in the Stockyards.

The aquarium in downtown Dallas is super and includes a large jungle pavilion and animals of all kinds. It's not to be confused with the horrible little aquarium in Fair Park. Close by the downtown facility are several restaurants and clubs. Plus the JFK museum (The Sixth Floor Museum) isn't too far away.

Shopping is wonderful in Dallas and you can find pretty much anything. It depends on what kind of shopping you enjoy.

 

[SandraVB79]

Oh, the Mustangs, they were so big and pretty!
And I loved to shop at Grapevine Mills!!

A couple of more months, and I'll be back in Texas... counting the days!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'll recommend a Mexican place

Pauncho's is across the underpass from Six Flags

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Asian Art Museum, and the Nasher Museum are all within a couple of blocks of each other downtown. They are all lovely.

The Myerson Symphony Center is also right there if you enjoy that type of performance (Dallas Symphony Orchestra).

The McKinney Avenue Contemporary Theater is in the same neighborhood for stage performances - not sure if they have plays all the time or not - maybe worth a Google search.

The West End is the downtown tourist area with clubs/bars/shops. American Airlines Center is the big arena where they have basketball, hockey, concerts, whatever. You can check to see what might be happening during your stay.

In Fair Park they have the Women's Museum, the African American Museum, the little crummy aquarium, a nice garden, the Science Place and the Dallas Museum of Natural History. The Music Hall at Fair Park is there too, and they have the Dallas Summer Musicals. BUT Fair Park is in a very bad part of town so be careful if you venture that way. It is right off the highway so you don't have to drive around the seedy parts, just have a good idea of how to get back on the highway when you are ready to leave!

The Dallas Arboretum is a huge botanical garden - it is absolutely gorgeous. A little toasty this time of year, but truly beautiful and a terrific place for photos.

In Arlington (near Six Flags) is the baseball stadium (which I think is currently named Ameriquest Field) where you can catch a Ranger game.

Have fun!!

 

[slimplaw]

If you want to see the Mustangs sculptures, they are in Las Colinas/Irving at Hwy 114 and O'Connor.

 

[MickeyMFan]

You guys really know how to come through!
I am going to print off this page and then do some quick searches for all the stuff you listed. I am definitely interested in the good aquarium, museums, botanical gardens, and the shops. Thanks again! I'll have to give you an update on my trip when I return!

April

 

[disneyfan67]

I've been to Dallas three times the past 10 years for Dallas Cowboy games and I have to vote for going to the JFK, Texas Book depository site. I went three times and took my parents once when they went with me on one trip. You can spend a few hours there and be sure to walk around Dealey Plaza as well. Here is a link below with all the info.


http://www.tourtexas.com/sixthfloormuseum/index.html

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The "good" aquarium downtown is called the Dallas World Aquarium, and it IS truly fabulous. Admission is a bit steep - about $17 for an adult - but they have terrific exhibits.

They have otters that are SO much fun to watch! The last time we went they were swimming and playing and making that otter noise (somewhere between a screech and a honk). They have huge crocodiles, at least one jaguar, penguins, endless species of fish, little monkeys, some birds, a sloth. Quite the authentic rainforest experience!

For shopping I think the best malls for fun browsing are the Galleria and NorthPark. NorthPark has just finished a huge expansion, and many of the new shops are exclusive to that mall. Some of them are the only location of that store in Texas. The paper did a big pull-out section telling what was the only location in Dallas, the only location in Texas, and so forth. My only complaint is that they closed the Disney store and it never re-opened, even though they were supposed to move to a new space and have a "flagship" store. Still good shopping, even without a Disney store!

 

[HOGFAN]

I second the idea to go to the book depository, very interesting museum.
to eat, I suggest Poppadeaux in Richardson. nothing like it in the world.

 

[RUDisney]

The thing that my DH was most excited about when we went to Dallas was that the Neiman Marcus flagship store is there. Since he'd been to Macy's and Bloomingdales in NYC and Marshal Fields in Chicago, he felt he had to make the pilgrimage to NM.

Whatever you do, when you get to the book depository, rent the self-guided tape. It was one of the best museum self-guided tours we've ever rented.

Also, rent the movie JFK before you go. It'll put you in the mood to relive the history.

Locals, it's been a while since we were there. Is the "water garden/park" that was under the Texas Commerce Bank still there? If it is, it's within walking distance and would be a nice place for you to hang out with a book because the water keeps it cooler under the bank and it's just nice there. The building was where JR Ewing's office was supposed to be on Dallas.